Between classes, I try to position myself outside my classroom door to bring an "adult" presence to my end of the hallway. Much to my chagrin, Amy, one of my students, is escorted to class each day by her boyfriend, and if the bell hasn't rung, they engage in some major making out right outside my door right in front of me. Get a room!
Understanding the Situation
a. What might be some underlying causes of the situation that you need to think about?
The male might want to prove to all his friends that he is"cool" Where as the female might want to make it known that she is with this guy and warn all the other girls to stay away. b. Are there resources within your school that might be of help? If so who and what questions should you ask them?
Counseling service could help them with problems with relationships. Also the school nurse might have that skill. c. Are there other resources that might be helpful?
Outside if school some sort of a relationship counseling, or maybe a group information meeting on healthy vs unhealthy relationships
A Solution
As a teacher, you will often try to address problems by preventing them. That said, things happen in classrooms that cannot be anticipated beforehand and you will have to make decisions about how to address the situation.
a. Decide whether your action is proactive (action aimed at preventing problem) or reactive (action occurs after situation develops).
This would be a reactive solution b. Decide what grade level you will "solve" this problem for.
11-12 c. Describe what you'll do.
I will not touch the student, but I will ask them to stop because excessive PDA is against school policy and I personally don't want this outside of my classroom while other students are walking into class. d. Describe how you anticipate your action(s) will affect the situation.
There are two ways this could go. Ideally they stop make a smart comment comment at me and I forget that they said that and the situation is diffused. Or they challenge me, and this could be as simple as this is a free country and we will do what we want. In that case I will have to stress that this is a school, and when you are in this school we work on the policies of this school.
Solution Consequences
Before you act to address a classroom situation, you have to anticipate possible consequences of your actions. Spell out some of these effects here:
a. How will you action be perceived by your students?
I think that as a long as I keep a cool head then most students wont have a problem with it. Many will be relieved because few people enjoy watching PDA. Others might take the side of the PDAer's but i doubt that they make a huge deal about it. b. How will your action affect the learning climate in your classroom?
The girl is in my class so it might affect her and her friends around her. But if I handle the situation the right way then there should not be to much resentment. I just need to make sure that I am respectful to the students involved and try and keep the situation as contained as I can. c. What might your students learn from your action? (Be sure to note both positive and negative lessons.)
They will learn on a positive note that there shouldnt be any PDA in the school. Or they could say well other teachers let us and Mr. Vayda is just a boring law enforcer that no one likes. d. How will your students' parents react to their child's account of your action? (Remember that they will put their own "spin" on what you do.)
I think that the parents will react with understanding. It is part of my job to enforce the rules of the school. I did not give them any punishment I respectfully asked them not to preform PDA in the hall by my classroom. If they jump down my throat I will tell them that if they would like to meet with me and my administrator I can try and make that happen. e. How will your administrator(s) react to your action?
I think they might tell me to give them some sort of formal punishment, but other than that I think that they will say I did a fine job. ----
BOTTOM LINE: I SHOULD...
I should tell them to stop and dont let me see it again, because this against school policy and I dont want to see you doing this anymore.
The Situation
Between classes, I try to position myself outside my classroom door to bring an "adult" presence to my end of the hallway. Much to my chagrin, Amy, one of my students, is escorted to class each day by her boyfriend, and if the bell hasn't rung, they engage in some major making out right outside my door right in front of me. Get a room!Understanding the Situation
a. What might be some underlying causes of the situation that you need to think about?
The male might want to prove to all his friends that he is"cool" Where as the female might want to make it known that she is with this guy and warn all the other girls to stay away.
b. Are there resources within your school that might be of help? If so who and what questions should you ask them?
Counseling service could help them with problems with relationships. Also the school nurse might have that skill.
c. Are there other resources that might be helpful?
Outside if school some sort of a relationship counseling, or maybe a group information meeting on healthy vs unhealthy relationships
A Solution
As a teacher, you will often try to address problems by preventing them. That said, things happen in classrooms that cannot be anticipated beforehand and you will have to make decisions about how to address the situation.a. Decide whether your action is proactive (action aimed at preventing problem) or reactive (action occurs after situation develops).
This would be a reactive solution
b. Decide what grade level you will "solve" this problem for.
11-12
c. Describe what you'll do.
I will not touch the student, but I will ask them to stop because excessive PDA is against school policy and I personally don't want this outside of my classroom while other students are walking into class.
d. Describe how you anticipate your action(s) will affect the situation.
There are two ways this could go. Ideally they stop make a smart comment comment at me and I forget that they said that and the situation is diffused. Or they challenge me, and this could be as simple as this is a free country and we will do what we want. In that case I will have to stress that this is a school, and when you are in this school we work on the policies of this school.
Solution Consequences
Before you act to address a classroom situation, you have to anticipate possible consequences of your actions. Spell out some of these effects here:a. How will you action be perceived by your students?
I think that as a long as I keep a cool head then most students wont have a problem with it. Many will be relieved because few people enjoy watching PDA. Others might take the side of the PDAer's but i doubt that they make a huge deal about it.
b. How will your action affect the learning climate in your classroom?
The girl is in my class so it might affect her and her friends around her. But if I handle the situation the right way then there should not be to much resentment. I just need to make sure that I am respectful to the students involved and try and keep the situation as contained as I can.
c. What might your students learn from your action? (Be sure to note both positive and negative lessons.)
They will learn on a positive note that there shouldnt be any PDA in the school. Or they could say well other teachers let us and Mr. Vayda is just a boring law enforcer that no one likes.
d. How will your students' parents react to their child's account of your action? (Remember that they will put their own "spin" on what you do.)
I think that the parents will react with understanding. It is part of my job to enforce the rules of the school. I did not give them any punishment I respectfully asked them not to preform PDA in the hall by my classroom. If they jump down my throat I will tell them that if they would like to meet with me and my administrator I can try and make that happen.
e. How will your administrator(s) react to your action?
I think they might tell me to give them some sort of formal punishment, but other than that I think that they will say I did a fine job.
----
BOTTOM LINE: I SHOULD...
I should tell them to stop and dont let me see it again, because this against school policy and I dont want to see you doing this anymore.